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CALL FOR NOMINATIONS!!

The Nominating Committee is calling for nominations to various Executive

Committee member positions and Board Committee Chair positions. If anyone

is interested in submitting a nomination request, contact Hugh Smith at

hsmith@brookweiner.com. Nominations are due by March 31, 2015. Success-

ful nominee terms will commence July 1, 2015. Please note, consideration will

be extended to only requests of members in good-standing in accordance with

National and Chapter By-Laws.

C H A P T E R N E W S !

AG

A C

HI

CA

GO

CH

AP

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F E B U R A R Y / M A R C H 2 0 1 5

O B S E R V A T I O N S I S S U E 7

O B S E R V A T I O N S

I N S I D E T H I S

I S S U E :

C H A P T E R N E W S 1

P R E S I D E N T ’ S

M E S S A G E

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C O M M U N I T Y

S E R V I C E E V E N T

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C G F M ® R E -

N E W A L I N F O R -

M A T I O N

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2 0 1 5 P R O F E S -

S I O N A L D E V E L -

O P M E N T

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A G A N A T I O N A L

N E W S

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C E C M E E T I N G

M I N U T E S

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C E C C O N T A C T

I N F O R M A T I O N

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S P E C I A L P O I N T S O F I N T E R E S T :

Call for Nominations

April Community Service Event

Certificate of Excellence

2015 Professional Development Training

CGFM® Renewal Information

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President’s Message

Greetings, The AGA Chicago Chapter sponsored an educa-tional speaker, Dan Conrod, from Dale Carnegie Chicago in mid-January 2015 who presented on the topic "1 + 1 = 3 ...Collaboration: Because Two Heads Are Better Than One." Dan engaged us well by asking us to reflect on how in today's business reality we find ourselves needing to do more, bet-ter, faster, with fewer resources. Those of us in attendance had an opportunity to bet-ter understand why it is critical that we collaborate effectively to use our resources most wisely. We talked about what both effective and ineffective collaboration look like, and Dan shared some barriers to effective collaboration. For example, several barriers to effective collaboration are (1) lack of clear roles, (2) absence of humility, and (3) an imbalance of workload that leads to resentment. We also learned some keys to establishing cultures where effective collaboration will more likely thrive, in-cluding (1) hiring strategically, (2) documenting successes, and (3) recognizing and rewarding people who collaborate effectively. Thanks to all who participated in our January training event and I hope you are using your new knowledge about effective collaboration to the fullest. We held an education session in February on Contract Fraud with Frank Berman, Spe-cial Agent-in-Charge with the General Services Administration's Central Regional In-vestigations Office. We learned about the history and role of the Office of Inspector General as well as his organization's experiences in detecting and preventing fraud, waste and abuse of government funds. We are grateful for the service of the Inspec-tor General organizations and thank all our members who serve in these important roles. Thanks also to all who attended our February training event. We hope you are able to attend a future educational session with our chapter and you can look for more opportunities in our newsletter and on our Chapter's website. Congratulations are in order because the Chicago Chapter received a Certificate of Ex-cellence in Citizen-Centric Reporting for its Fiscal Year 2014 Chapter CCR. We put a copy of the certificate in the newsletter and on our website, along with information about the commendation we received from AGA's national office. My hope is that we can now use the knowledge gained by preparing the AGA Chicago Chapter's CCR for 2014 to help mentor other entities in the Chicago-land area to prepare their own citi-zen-centric or member-centric reports. If you are not yet a Certified Government Financial Manager, consider obtaining this certification. The CGFM professional certification covers governmental accounting, auditing, financial reporting, internal controls and budgeting at the federal, state and local levels. We have study guides that you can borrow to help prepare for the exams by contacting Raul Nieto our CGFM director. The first two months of 2015 certainly flew by in what seemed like record time. We look forward to sharing valuable time with you at some future AGA Chicago Chapter events. In closing, here are a few wise quotes related to time and how we use it:

Advancing

Government Accountability

Association

of Government

Accountants

Chicago Chapter

P. O. Box 1744

Chicago, IL

60604-9998

www.agachicago.org

The Wrigley Building,

Chicago

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"Every morning you are handed 24 golden hours. They are one of the few things in this world that you get free of charge. If you had all the money in the world, you couldn't buy an extra hour. What will you do with this priceless treasure? Remember, you must use it, as it is given only once. Once wasted you cannot get it back." Author Unknown "Time = life; therefore, waste your time and waste of your life, or master your time and master your life." Alan Lakein "Once you have mastered time, you will understand how true it is that most people overestimate what they can accomplish in a year – and underestimate what they can achieve in a decade!" Anthony Robbins "If you want to make good use of your time, you’ve got to know what’s most important and then give it all you’ve got." Lee Iacocca Regards, Deborah Kinsey, President AGA Chicago Chapter 2014-2015

April Community Service Event

Volunteers are needed to join us on Saturday April 11th for our next Community Service

event at Hilda's Place Shelter. From 10:00 am-12:30 pm we will help sort and organize food

and clothing donations, possibly light cleaning work around the shelter, and/or other duties

as assigned. We will meet at Hilda’s Place Shelter, an affiliate of Connections for the Home-

less located in the basement of the Lake Street Church at 1458 Chicago Ave in Evanston, IL.

The basement entrance is off of the alley that runs behind the church building. Please con-

tact the AGA Community Service Director Eddie Jones at eddie.jones@oig.dhs.gov or 312-

886-0156 with any questions. Hope to see you there!

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The AGA Chicago Chapter was awarded a Certificate of Excellence in Citizen-Centric Reporting for its

Fiscal Year 2014 Chicago Chapter CCR. The letter Chapter president Deborah Kinsey received from

AGA’s Chief Executive Officer, Ann M. Ebberts, commended the chapter for the CCR’s (1) visual appeal,

(2) good list of chapter accomplishments, and (3) easy to read financial information. As a growth opportu-

nity, AGA suggested we consider revising the report to a “member centric report” in part one. They noted

that by preparing a CCR for our Chapter, we have taken the first step to understanding the initiative and

given ourselves a platform on which to stand and promote the report. The Chicago Chapter thanks the team

that produced the FY 2014 CCR: Deborah Kinsey, Eddie Jones and Matt Matczynski. Thanks also go to

Elaine Igelman, immediate past president, and chapter treasurer, Tom DILisio, for the hands-on support

they provided as the team prepared the report. We also thank the other officers and board for their ongoing

support of the Chicago Chapter in its ongoing Accountability efforts.

2014 CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE

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The Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM®)

The Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM) certification is awarded

by the Association of Government Accountants (AGA). AGA is a national pro-

fessional association of some 15,000 members who represent every level of gov-

ernment financial management. Since 1950, AGA has been dedicated to serving

those who are faced with the challenge of using every government financial re-

source in the most effective manner possible and has been the vanguard organi-

zation addressing the issues and challenges facing government financial manag-

ers.

AGA's CGFM program is specially designed to help meet the critical need for

greatly increased emphasis on the professional qualifications and stature of gov-

ernment financial managers. This professional designation is designed specifi-

cally to recognize the unique skills and special knowledge required of profes-

sionals who specialize in government financial management. In addition to

meeting the program's education and experience requirements, those awarded

the designation agree to abide by AGA's strict Code of Ethics and complete at

least 80 hours of continuing professional education in government financial

management topics or related technical subjects every two years.

Want more information? Contact the Chapter’s CGFM Director, Raul

Nieto, at 312/ 730-1634

C G F M

"If your

actions inspire

others to

dream more,

learn more,

do more and

become more,

you are a

leader."

-- John Quincy

Adams

Important CGFM® Renewal Information

To maintain the CGFM certification in an active status, CGFMs are required to:

Pay the CGFM annual renewal fee by March 31.

Complete at least 80 hours of continuing professional education (CPE) in

government financial management topics or related technical subjects within

each designated two-year cycle.

Maintain and, if requested by AGA, provide detailed information on CPE

hours completed.

See Maintaining CGFM Certification for more information on CGFM renewal

and CPE requirements.

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March 2015 is Certified Government Financial Manager Month in Illinois

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The Chicago Chapter earned the following Chapter Recognition Program credits during January and

February:

Chapter Leadership, Planning & Participation – 150 credits

Education and Professional Development – 750 credits

CGFM – 425 credits

Communications – 932 credits

Membership and Early Careers – 200 credits

Accountability – 250 credits

Total – 2,043 credits

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NATIONAL AGA NEWS

Be Among the Elite!

Renew your AGA membership online; it's quick, easy and secure. Need an invoice? Print one. Renew now.

Looking for CPE? We've Got All Shapes and Sizes!

Whether you want a 2-hour webinar or are looking for CPE available 24/7, we've got something to fit your

needs! Read more

Scholarships Available to AGA Members and Family

Pursuing undergraduate or graduate studies in accounting, auditing, budgeting, economics, finance, IT, or

public administration? Apply by April 17!

2015 Government Performance Summit

May 4-5 | Washington | 14 CPEs Available

Go beyond financial performance improvement to experience an exceptional exchange of practical strate-

gies and hands-on learning. Read more

Expand Your Career Options with CGFM® Certification

CGFM, the only certification covering governmental accounting, auditing, financial reporting and budgeting

at the federal, state and local levels. Learn More.

Traveling? Plan to Visit an AGA Chapter

Chapters welcome visiting AGA members and their guests. Check out the calendar of events. Are you a

chapter leader? Add your chapter/region's events here.

Got an Ethical Dilemma?

Submit your ethics question, and an answer to your anonymous question may be published in the summer

Journal.

Join AGA on LinkedIn

Be part of the community and the conversation. Post job openings. Share industry updates. Join now

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PHOTOS FROM FEBRUARY CONTINUING EDUCATION SEMINAR

Topic: Contract Fraud

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PHOTOS FROM JANUARY TRAINING EVENT

Dan Conrod of Dale Carnegie Chicago Training

"1 + 1 = 3 ...Collaboration: Because Two Heads Are Better Than One”

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AGA, Chicago Chapter

Chapter Executive Committee Meeting

January 22, 2015

11:30 to 12:30 pm

1. Minutes from the December meeting were approved with no changes.

2. AGA National office provides two scholarships for the PDT in Nashville, TN from July 12 to 16.

The scholarship will pay for the hotel. The local chapter also gives scholarships to cover registra-

tion. Members who are interested should email Deborah Kinsey.

3. Scholarship – We need to use scholarship funds of $169 from national by the end of January. We

can buy gift certificates or gift cards, but we must have a plan in place on how to use them. It was

suggested that gift cards of $10 to $20 increments for Amazon, Starbucks, or Target be purchase.

Motion was made and approved.

4. Recognition of Board Members – Deborah Kinsey, Matt Matcznski, and Frank Moy are working on

a board recognition dinner.

Issue of whether board members should be reimbursed for dues was discussed. Motion was made

that a policy be established to reimburse, at the end of the year, board members for all AGA fees

assuming they are in good standing. Motion to establish a policy was approved. Tom DiLisio will

develop the policy.

5. Chanel Castaneda has the policies and procedures and application ready for the scholarship and will

distribute for review and comment.

6. Deidra Smith has been added to the board as the newsletter editor.

7. Programs – CJ Carter stated that volunteers are needed for the PDT and a request for volunteers and

jobs will be sent to the board. Lorraine Johnson will prepare a flyer and market the PDT on social

media.

8. Tom DiLisio distributed the financial statements. There were no questions.

9. The AGA National office gave the Chicago Chapter’s Citizen Centric Report a Certificate of Excel-

lence.

10. Meeting adjourned at 12:35.

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AGA Chicago Chapter Executive Committee Meeting

Attendance List

Meeting Date: 1/22/15

Name Title Present Absent

Deborah Kinsey President X

Elaine Igelman Immediate Past President X

Janet Kasper Secretary, Accountability X

Thomas DiLisio Treasurer X

Hugh Smith President elect X

Frank Moy Education Chair X

Cynthia Carter Program Director X

Matt Matczynski Meetings Director X

Nancy Taylor Membership Director X

Deidra Smith Newsletter Editor X

Olga Gesell Historian, Website Director X

Raul Nieto CGFM Director X

Rick Urbanowski Recognition Director X

Chanel Castaneda Awards Director X

Eddie Jones Community Service Director and Early Careers X

Andy Masiewicz Early Careers Assistant Director X

Lorraine Jamison PR/Marketing Director X

Robert Cherney Membership Assistant Director X

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C H A P T E R C E C C O N T A C T I N F O R M A T I O N

President

Deborah Kinsey

Formerly SSA/OIG

AGA Chicago Chapter

PO Box 1744

Chicago IL 60604-999

dkinsey@agachicago.org

President-Elect

Hugh Smith

BrookWeiner. LLC

312/ 205-3265

hsmith@brookweiner.com

Past President Elaine Ingelman

Formerly DCAA

847/ 922-7181

Elaine@ingelman.com

Secretary Janet Kasper

EPA

312/ 886-3059

Kasper.janet@epa.gov

Treasurer Thomas DiLisio

DOL

312/ 596-5454

Dilisio.thomas@dol.gov

Program Director Cynthia “CJ” Carter

RRB

(312) 751-4636

cjcarter@agachicago.org

Membership Director Nancy Taylor

DOL/ETA

312/ 596-5460

Taylor.nancy@dol.gov

Meetings Director

Matthew Matczynski

HUD/ OIG

312/ 913-8644

mmatczynski@hudoig.gov

Community Service/

Early Careers Director

Eddie Jones

DHS/OIG

312/ 886-0156

Eddie.Jones@oig.dhs.gov

Newsletter Editor

Deidra Smith

RRB/OIG

312/ 751-4918

deidra.smith@oig.rrb.gov

Education Director Frank Moy

GSA/OIG

312/ 353-7781 ext. 112

franklin.moy@gsaig.gov

Website Director/ Historian Olga Gesell

HHS/OIG

312/ 353-7907

olgagesell@agachicago.org

Recognition Director

Rick Urbanowski

HUD/ OIG

312/ 913-8492

Rurbanowski@hudoig.gov

CGFM Director Raul Nieto

ED/OIG

312/ 730-1634

raul.nieto@ed.gov

By-laws & Procedures

Co-Director

Hugh Smith

BrookWeiner. LLC

312/ 205-3265

hsmith@brookweiner.com

Awards Director Chanel Castaneda

DOL-ETA

312/596-5453

Castaneda.chanel@dol.gov

Job Referral Director Vacant

Coordinator/

Accountability Director

Vacant

Early Careers Assistant

Director

Andy Masiewicz

Becker

773/ 807-8661

amasiewicz@becker.com

Marketing Director

Lorraine Jamison

DOL-ETA

312/ 596-5457

Jamison.lorraine@dol.gov

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Interested in becoming a

sponsor? Please contact us!

Post Office Box 1744

Chicago, IL 60604-9998

AGA supports the careers and professional development of

government finance professionals working in federal, state

and local governments as well as the private sector and acade-

mia. Founded in 1950, AGA enjoys a long history as the

thought leader for the government accountability profession.

Through education, research, publications, certification and

conferences, AGA reaches thousands of professionals and of-

fers more than 100,000 continuing professional education

(CPE) hours annually.

B U S I N E S S N A M E

The chapter provides an op-

portunity for accountants and

auditors to meet on a regular

basis for training and network-

ing.

The mission of the AGA Chi-

cago Chapter is to carry out an

educational responsibility of

enhancing public financial man-

agement and accountability.

AGA through its chapters is a

leading advocate for improving

the quality and effectiveness of

financial managers and auditors

from local, state and federal

governments from the Chicago

area.

C H I C A G O C H A P T E R M I S S I O N S T A T E M E N T

Check us out on the web!

agachicago.org

Pictures used throughout the newsletter are courtesy of: www.city-data.com/album/album-Chicago-Illinois.html